Article Archive by Jason Gorham

Recent Google Updates for SEO: MAYDAY & CAFFEINE FREE Webinar

by Jason Gorham

Join us: Wednesday, August 18th at 1 pm EST (10 am PST)
Can’t make the date? Also available on-demand

Featuring: Danielle Leitch, Executive Vice President Client Strategy
 
These two major Algorithm Updates were recently implemented by Google. Many advertisers saw changes with their organic search rankings. Did it impact your website and SEO positions? If so, you won’t want to miss this presentation.

In this 45 minute webinar, to include Q&A, you will learn:

• What is Google Caffeine & the Mayday Update?
• How These Updates Effect Websites.
• “The Good The Bad & The Ugly” of New Search Results.
• Tactics To Rank Better In the Future.

Details:
This webinar is 45 minutes. On-Demand webinar access will be provided after 08/19/2010

Do You Think Like A Customer?

by Jason Gorham

In our everyday life we are bombarded with multiple advertising and marketing messages that a lot of us just tune out.  So how does one take advantage of internet marketing techniques to reach your audience?  I think the answer is simple, put yourself in your customer’s shoes.  A lot of internet marketing professionals spend countless hours locked behind closed doors, thinking, planning and then executing on ideas that people really have no interest in.  The reason why is that they don’t consult, question, ask or engage their potential customers to find out what’s important to them.

As a consumer I need products and services everyday….gas, dry cleaning, power, job related information and the list goes on.  However some of these are necessities so we are going to exclude them.  The ones that aren’t need to have significant value to move through all of the online clutter.  That means that the marketer has to show me value in a very short amount of time in order to engage me.  For me, personally, I look for good content that is going to enhance my professional career, products that will simplify my life and services that aren’t hard to find.  So if your focus is on internet marketing, are you just focusing on your product or service and its benefits, whereas your focus should be on your customers pain points or benefits that they will receive from your product or services. 

Every company has great products and services, just ask them and they will tell you, but is this really the case?  If marketers would put consumer’s needs and wants first, instead of what the product or service can do, then companies would be able to increase sales, brand following and loyalty.  The goal is to make the connection with the customer for life, establish a relationship and solve their problems and needs.  However if your marketing includes how great you are, what new features you have implemented or what you have done for other customers, your missing your mark.     

Do Search Engines Have Any Boundaries?

by Jason Gorham

Everyone has to use a starting point when looking for information on the internet, that’s why search engines are so powerful.  

Our recent Google webinar had me wondering if search engines have any boundaries.  
Of course they have boundaries you would say.   Did you know mobile search will make up at least 50% of the search engine market within three years?   That means that search engines will not only dominate the desktop, but will be everywhere that you are.   One of the newest types of search features is Google Goggles.   Google Goggles allows mobile phone users to take pictures of books, landmarks, artwork, places and wine and then identify what the picture taken is.   The system identifies the picture and then searches based on what the item is.

Another new technology soon to be released is Speech to Search.   Instead of typing your search queries into a search engine on your mobile phone, you will be able to speak your search and have the search engine recognize your searches via voice. Speech recognition has been available for years, but combining search engines and speech recognition will increase search engines ease of use on mobile devices.   What if search engines knew what you were thinking of searching?   Is this the next phase for search engines?   What if search engines could understand your finger touch and be able to predict what you’re going to do or type next?   These are just a couple of examples of where search engines could go next, so the possibilities are boundless.